30 Day Song Challenge

Not gonna lie…at this point last year I was feeling this song. I don’t really consider Taio Cruz to be a great talent. I imagine he’s a product of a producer in a studio and has some talent but probably has zero stage presence. that being said, this song was all over the radio last year at this time and my kids both loved it and admittedly…so did I. Here’s Taio Cruz with “Break Your Heart.” The final song in my 30 Day Song Challenge (thankfully). And this will be the last time I EVER do something like this! LOL

Oh come on. I was born in the 60’s, raised in the 70’s, went through puberty in the 80’s and started my adult life in the 90’s. Needless to say, I’ve heard my share of great music. And when I was a kid, I remember hearing all kinds of great music from my parents 8-track or in the jukebox at our restaurant. One song that I remember really liking for a variety of reasons was Alan O’Day’s “Undercover Angel.” It was #1 in 1977 and I remember hearing it playing at my parents’ restaurant over & over. I liked it because the artists’ name was the same as mine. And because I liked “Charlie’s Angels.” And because it was a great song! Anyway…here it is. Great pop from the late 70’s!

Guilt is a pretty strong emotion and surprisingly there aren’t many songs that make me “feel” that way. However there is one artist that brings back some pretty strong reminders of a past relationship that always makes me feel guilty about our breakup and his music always makes me think of my previous wife from many years ago. She had a fondness for James Taylor and to this day, “Fire & Rain” makes me think of her. I know that she remarried and had children and I hope she is having a great life. But “Fire & Rain” always brings back a guilty feeling, even though it has been years since the last time I saw her.

Oh how I love me some sax. If there was ever an instrument that makes me wanna…well…turn up my radio it’s the saxophone. And if I were gonna learn how to play an instrument it would be the saxophone. And if I was gonna play one song, I’d want to play Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street.” Always loved that song and the sax makes me wanna cry it’s so good. Check it out!

Originally this category was supposed to be “A Song That I Can Play On An Instrument,” but seeing as how I can’t play an instrument, I figured this would play well since we had the opposite track at Day 16 with “A Song I Used To Love But Now Hate.”

So now…what song did I USED to hate but now love? Well…this one is easy. When I was younger, I just didn’t get Bob Seger. He seemed like a poor man’s Bruce Springsteen to me and I wasn’t that big of a Springsteen fan in the 80’s to care for either of them that much. As the years go by though, I’ve come to appreciate the lyrics and music of both musicians and Bob Seger has now come to hold a special place in my heart simply because of his heartfelt lyrics seem so appropriate now that I’m older. “Against The Wind” is the staple in his collection of greatest hits. I never got it. But now that I’ve lived life a little I do. And this song speaks volumes to me.

“Against The Wind”by Bob Seger

It seems like yesterday But it was long ago Janey was lovely, she was the queen of my nights There in the darkness with the radio playlng low And the secrets that we shared The mountains that we moved Caught like a wildfire out of control Till there was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove

And I remember what she said to me How she swore that it never would end I remember how she held me oh so tight Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then

Against the wind We were runnin’ against the wind We were young and strong, we were runnin’ against the wind

And the years rolled slowly past And I found myself alone Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends I found myself further and further from my home And I guess I lost my way There were oh so many roads I was living to run and running to live Never worried about paying or even how much I owed Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time Breaking all of the rules that would bend I began to find myself searchin’ Searching for shelter again and again Against the wind A little something against the wind I found myself seeking shelter against the wind

Well those drifters days are past me now I’ve got so much more to think about Deadlines and commitments What to leave in, what to leave out

Against the wind I’m still runnin’ against the wind Well I’m older now and still Against the wind

What a morbid sort of category but I guess it’s gonna happen sometime…so if I were to pick a song that I would want played in celebration of my untimely death, I would have to pick “Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo.

Just kidding.

In order to keep in perspective that a funeral is truly a celebration of one’s life, I think I will go with something that is quiet yet has big meaning. Pearl Jam’s “Man of the Hour” was written for the 2003 Tim Burton film, “Big Fish.” Although it’s told from a son’s perspective on his father’s death, it still holds true for almost any man and Eddie Vedder pretty much nails the emotional aspect of losing someone close.

“Man Of the Hour”by Pearl Jam

Tidal waves don’t beg forgiveness Crashed and on their way Father he enjoyed collisions; others walked away A snowflake falls in may. And the doors are open now as the bells are ringing out Cause the man of the hour is taking his final bow Goodbye for now.

Nature has its own religion; gospel from the land Father ruled by long division, young men they pretend Old men comprehend.

And the sky breaks at dawn; shedding light upon this town They’ll all come round Cause the man of the hour is taking his final bow G’bye for now.

And the road The old man paved The broken seems along the way The rusted signs, left just for me He was guiding me, love, his own way Now the man of the hour is taking his final bow As the curtain comes down I feel that this is just g’bye for now.

Here’s the thing…I’m married now, so I’m thinking I’m done with the whole wedding process. However…if I absolutely HAD to do it over again? I guess if I were to be forced to pick a different song other than THIS one back at Day 7 that reminds me of my wedding day, I would go with PM Dawn’s “A Lifetime.” It’s my opinion that this underrated band from the 90’s was never given its due. I enjoy all of their albums and their story (the 2 original members are brothers) is filled with tragedy. With the early death of their father at an early age to the drowning of their youngest brother to the stroke suffered by member Prince Be, this band has definitely had it’s fill of sorrow. But this track is one of optimism and love and I have always thought of it as a great wedding day song. Here’s “A Lifetime” by PM Dawn…

Holy animation, what’s a human, what’s a lifetime?All the angels, praying for me, I’m only humanFor a lifetime, what’s a lifetime, if you love me?For a lifetime, you said you’d love me

Mass producing, more affection, for a human, For a lifetime, many lifetimes, for a human, Is it human to, know your…your lifetimes? What’s a lifetime, if you love me? What’s a lifetime, if you can’t love me?

Sacred introduction, to a human, to a lifetime, Elevation, turns emotions, into humans Into lifetimes, What’s a lifetime, if you love me? For a lifetime, you said you’d love me

Ok. Admittedly I can get a little sad from time to time. And when I do there are a lot of sad sack songs that I can pick that put me in a woe-is-me mode. However leading the pack is this short ditty by The Weepies. Released at the end of 2005, this little song is simple yet says so much. Sometimes we get swept away in our lives and we forget. And then eventually we remember…but it’s too late. And this that is what it’s all about….

“The World Spins Madly On”by The Weepies

Woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
I thought of you and where you’d gone
and let the world spin madly on

Everything that I said I’d do Like make the world brand new And take the time for you I just got lost and slept right through the dawn And the world spins madly on

I let the day go by I always say goodbye I watch the stars from my window sill The whole world is moving and I’m standing still

Woke up and wished that I was dead With an aching in my head I lay motionless in bed The night is here and the day is gone And the world spins madly on

If there ever was a song that made me happy every time I hear it, it’s George Harrison’s “What Is Life.” From the opening guitar riff the the when the drums kick in to the horns to George’s sweet vocals, I just love everything about it. And the lyrics are so hopeful and lovely, I can’t help but think of my wife whenever I hear it. Written by Harrison in 1969, it was the 2nd single released off his classic album, “All Things Must Pass.” Originally written for Billy Preston, Harrison recorded it with the help of his friend Phil Spector and the rest is history. If there ever was a sweeter

What I feel, I can’t say But my love is there for you anytime of day But if it’s not love that you need Then I’ll try my best to make everything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

What I know, I can do If I give my love now to everyone like you But if it’s not love that you need Then I’ll try my best to make ev’rything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love Tell me, who am I without you, by my side Tell me, what is my life without your love Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

What is my life without your love Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

This day presents a small challenge in that I have a lot of “angry” songs I listen too. Sometimes they’re loud, sometimes it’s the lyrics that get me fired up, sometimes I just want to not have to think about anything. And there are many bands that could fit this description. Guns N Roses, Metallica, AC/DC, you name it. But the song I’m gonna go with is by one of the more volatile bands from this generation. Oasis became a band in 1991 and with the 2 Gallagher brothers leading the way, they managed to fight their way to the top with a slew of alternative rock hits through that decade up until 2009. Along the way there were so many rumors of fighting and bickering that it’s a wonder the band lasted 2 years, let alone 18. But it did and they rock my world when I’m pissed off…especially their song “My Big Mouth” from the 1997 album, “Be Here Now.” Here it is…in all its supersonic glory!

Released on March 9th of the year I graduated from high school (1987), there have been only a handful of albums that have retained their magic for me over the years. My favorite album by my favorite band has a slew of hits on it but my favorite track is “Bullet the Blue Sky.” The lyrics are about the United States’ military intervention in the El Salvador civil war. Bono, being the political firewire that he is, told The Edge to “put El Salvador through an amplifier.” With a throbbing baseline and and a squealing guitar, this arena rock staple comes at you with a purpose and never lets up!

It seems to me that there is a lack of good rock music on the radio these days. So if I was to REQUEST a song to hear on the radio at this time, I would say The Cave Singers’ “Black Leaf” is one of my favorites right now. So…let’s cue it up Mr DJ! I wanna hear some good classic rock n roll bundled up in a new package and this is it!

Considering I have kids and I don’t listen to much radio these days unless they are with me, the song I’ve been hearing the most of recently is my son’s favorite song, “Grenade” by Bruno Mars. Not my favorite song but it’s definitely the one I’ve been hearing the most of!

Whazzup with all the hate in this challenge? So now I have to pick a song that I used to like a lot but now I have grown tired of. That seems like an easy one but I’ve been having trouble figuring it out. Needless to say, after 3 days of consideration, I’m gonna go with this pop favorite from 2006…Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” I used to love it until it got played to death! And now everytime I hear it I change the channel. Safe to say, “Crazy” now drives me crazy!!!

Let’s face it…rap and I get along but when it comes to 90’s gangsta rap? I’m not really that into it. Seriously…there’s nothing there for me to identify with. However, when 2Pac took the riff from one of my favorite Phil Collins songs and rapped about how rough life was in the hood, I could’t help but listen. It’s a scary & heartbreaking story and it was lyrics like these that made the man into a legend.

Now I was raised as a young black maleIn order to get paid, forced to make crack salesCaught a nigga so they send me to these overpacked jailsIn the cell, countin days in this livin black Hell, do you feel me?Keys to ignition, use at your discretionRoll with a twelve gauge pump for protectionNiggaz hate me in the section from years of chin checkinTurn to Smith and Wesson war weaponsHeavenly Father I’m a soldier, I’m gettin hottercause the world’s gettin colder, baby let me hold yaTalk to my guns like they fly bitchesAll you bustas best to run look at my bitches

(They got me) starin at the world through my rearview Go on baby scream to God, he can’t hear you I can feel your heart beatin fast cause it’s time to die Gettin high, watchin time fly – and all my motherfuckers/nigga can die

I’m not even lying when I say that my list for this particular category is extremely long. There are so many songs that many would find to be “guilty” pleasures that I had to really think long and hard about which one to choose. I finally came to the conclusion that it had to be an artist who has long been obscure and who has been vilified as an artist. So who better for those 2 categories than Richard Marx? In the late 80’s/early 90’s, Marx became the first artist ever to have his first 7 singles make it to the Billboard Top 5. He sold over 30 million records and has written many popular songs for other artists that have gone on to be hits. My personal favorite (and my guilty pleasure) is “Should’ve Known Better” from his 1987 self-titled debut album. It reached #3 on the Billboard charts and has always been a favorite of mine for whatever reason.

Apparently Marx is still recording music to this day and has made some television appearances. I honestly don’t think I’ve heard any music by him since the early 90’s but that just makes him all that more interesting to me. So here is Richard Marx and “Should’ve Known Better.” For better or for worse, it’s one of my favorite guilty pleasure songs…

Hate is a strong word. I don’t know that it really applies to music. I figure you don’t like something, you don’t listen to it. So to truly “hate” it, you’d have to be FORCED to listen to it and I can honestly say that no one has ever forced me to listen to anything I didn’t want to so with that being said…

If there was ever a band I didn’t “get” it’s this hippy band from the 60’s, the Grateful Dead. Oh…I get the drugs and the mellow out and “Peace Baby” concept but seriously…listening to ‘shroom-induced 25 minute psychedelic jams ain’t my cup of tea. But there are millions out there who DO get it and so…I wish them all the best. The Grateful Dead are more known for their live performances than their “hits”, but I’ve always thought this particular song is way over-rated. So here is The Grateful Dead’s “Casey Jones.” Not necessarily my most HATED band but definitely one that you won’t find on my IPhone at any time…

Well…this is easy. I mean picking my favorite band, that is. Picking ONE song by them is a totally different mission because they have so many! So obviously U2 is my favorite band…and I will go with this classic from their album, “The Unforgettable Fire.” It’s also one of the most played tracks in their repertoire when they play live and it hasn’t aged since the first time I heard it many, many…many years ago.

Here’s the band performing it live at Live Aid back in 1985. It was awesome then and it’s awesome now. Especially Bono’s hair. Wonder whatever happened to THAT…?

I’m not sure if this is a negative thing or a positive thing. If I had to choose, I’m gonna go with it being a POSITIVE thing and choose a song that I would CHOOSE to listen to in order to fall asleep. If that is the case, I would choose Al Stewart’s “Time Passages.” Good ol’ Al supplied us with a slew of mellow pop classics back in the 70’s but none were more hypnotic than “Time Passages.” And with it’s lovely saxophone, slight guitar and its rhythmic beat it’s the perfect sleepy time song for me…